News Archive

Though markets averaged a 7.45% return from 2004-2012, unfunded liability of public pension funds tripled — to just under $2 trillion — over that same period, according to a recent Moody’s report. Along with trying to recover from the recent recession, public entities are simply not providing... READ MORE

Experience, it is said, is the most difficult teacher, because she always gives the test before she gives the lesson. Every professional finds themselves at some point reflecting, “I wish I had” or “I wish I had never.” Join us for a complimentary webcast on Friday, Oct. 10 from noon to 12:50 p.m.... READ MORE

If you work with a plan in, or with certain connections to, the state of Florida, you may have a compliance problem with your plan loans.An update from Bryan Cave, LLP notes that under its revenue laws, Florida imposes a document tax on loan transactions that are made, signed, executed, issued, or... READ MORE

While there is room for improvement in 403(b) participation rates, those rates are not as doom-and-gloom as those who market alternatives to 403(b) plan sponsors would like you to believe. In this week’s MarketBeat, Michael Webb explains why it’s a mistake to compare participation rates in 401(k)s... READ MORE

Americans held $6.6 trillion in all employer-based DC retirement plans on June 30, 2014, of which $941 billion was held in 403(b) plans, and another $255 billion in 457 plans. Those figures are up from $6.4 trillion, $922 billion and $248 billion, respectively, as of March 31, 2014, according to... READ MORE

Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler recently presented the legislature with recommendations for increasing Oregonians’ retirement savings, access to a retirement plan and ability to enroll in one. The recommendations are the work of the state’s Retirement Security Task Force, which the legislature... READ MORE

The DOL has issued numerous fee disclosure rules, including regs under ERISA Section 408(b)(2), to help fiduciaries determine what a “reasonable” fee is. In this week’s MarketBeat. Kimberley Flett and Jeannine Souders discuss what those regulations require of service providers. READ MORE

The states may serve as laboratories and “try novel social and economic experiments,” wrote U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, and a recent NTSA webcast addressed how they do that regarding retirement systems. In “Public Pensions in Flux? A Review of State Retirement System and Alternatives... READ MORE

Washington has been training its eye on fees and transparency for years now. But so is the industry. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) is the latest organization to convene a group trying to make sure broker-dealers are giving investors fee disclosures they can... READ MORE